Have you ever wondered why some pools are cool blue while others are dark-bottom pools? What about a vivid green that’s not algae or bright sparkles? It’s all in the finish that was designed by custom pool builders.
What is a pool finish? It’s the material with which you surface the interior of your pool, including plaster, quartz, and tiles. Talk to custom pool builders for expert advice if you need help determining the best material for your pool finishing.
Custom Pool Builders in Orange County Choose Quartz
There are some excellent reasons quartz finishes are best for most pool surfaces. These swimming pools are non-porous, which means their surface is too smooth for algae and mold to grow.
Being non-porous means they are water-resistant and far less likely to suffer water damage than other materials, like plaster. Another advantage of being non-porous is that it’s stain-resistant, so it retains its original brilliant color without the unsightly blemishes that can appear on other finishes.
Quartz finishes come in a variety of colors. This is because quartz aggregate is made from tumbled, round quartz granules with colored ceramic pigments. The resulting colored quartz aggregate is added to a marcite base with silica, creating a beautiful and durable finish.
The most common quartz colors include shades of blue quartz, red, white, grey, tan, and teal. You can even get standard colors, such as a natural quartz finish.
Quartz Durability
Quartz is a very hard material, it’s on the upper end of the Mohs scale that categorizes minerals according to their hardness, and is virtually scratch- and chip-proof. It is nearly impossible to damage. Even the harsh pool chemicals and chemical imbalances in pool water that erode other materials have no effect on this material, which remains smooth to the touch.
It’s so strong that it can last 20 years to 30 years, which is far longer than other pool finishes like a traditional plaster that has to be replaced every 5 years to 7 years. The hardness makes a good long-lasting choice for areas that have hard water.
Hard water usually creates calcium deposits in swimming pools, which affects your swimming pool’s filter and can also stain the finish. Quartz is an attractive pool finish resistant to calcium deposits, sparing your filter which you won’t have to replace so often, and remaining free of mild stains.
If you need to know whether your area has hard or soft water, talk to a specialist in custom pool design in Orange County. They’ll give you advice about how to use quartz over the entire pool to produce the most outstanding pool finish.
Can I Use Quartz Aggregate in My Old Pool?
Yes, you can. When the time comes to replace your current finish, you can switch to quartz and immediately see the benefits of the perfect finish. The reason is simple, quartz is a non-reactive material, so it won’t react in any way with whatever material your pool is made of, including plaster and gunite.
One of the advantages of switching to quartz is the ease with which quartz aggregate can be repaired. If something happens to it, all you have to do is sand the area to remove the stain or smooth out some roughness, then reapply the finish.
You don’t have to worry about mismatching colors because the factories that produce quartz sell it in pre-packaged factory blends. You’re almost guaranteed to find a suitable finish blend to match your pool.
Does Quartz Have Any Disadvantages?
Yes, it does; after all, nothing is perfect. The biggest discouraging factor for pool owners is the finish cost. Initial installation costs are 20% to 30% higher than plaster. However, quartz aggregate outlasts plaster by up to 15 years, making it the more cost-effective option in the long run.
While it’s extremely rare, some quartz pool finishing fades over time. This is usually due to UV ray exposure. In some cases, UV rays break down the resin that binds the quartz. Inferior quartz aggregate is more likely to fade under UV rays and from chlorine and other harsh chemicals used to keep pools clean.
Another disadvantage of poor-quality quartz aggregate finishes is blotchiness. The pigment in badly made aggregate settles unevenly, resulting in an uneven, patchy finish. It’s worth paying a bit more for higher-quality quartz and ensuring that you hire reputable, professional, and expert pool builders.
A Stunning End Product
It’s established that quartz swimming pool finishes have all sorts of benefits related to their hardiness, but lest we forget, the end product is gorgeous.
The surface is almost perfectly smooth, which is gentle on your feet. However, it’s not so smooth that you’ll slip and slide whenever you try to walk in the pool. This is because it has a texture like fine grains of sand that is non-slip and ideal for family pools.
The variety of quartz pool finish colors means you can choose the shade that will provide the best visual appearance to complement the overall aesthetic of your backyard and the exterior of your home.
For example, if your pool deck is mainly made of concrete pavers, you can choose shades of gray and white to finish your pool. On the other hand, if your pavers have an earthy hue, you can choose shades of tan.
Quartz aggregate contains little pieces of smooth glass that are fused with the quartz finish. When the glass catches the sun or your swimming pool lights at night, it can look like the light is dancing in the water.
Let Calimingo Pools Install a Quartz Finish You’re Always Dreamed Of!
If you think this high-end pool finish is the one for you, a luxury custom pool builder is what you need to get the job done amazingly!
To learn the next steps in the decision-making process about choosing the right pool finishing, contact us at 714-235-3294 at Calimingo Pools today!